Selman steers Glamorgan to 139/5 at Swansea

Related Articles

An unbeaten 79 by Nick Selman has guided Glamorgan to 139/5 at the close of play of the second day of their rain-affected Specsavers County Championship match against Northamptonshire at Swansea after the visitors made 321 in their first innings.

Close of Play report

Glamorgan resumed after tea on 33/0 and Nick Selman was swiftly in the runs as he cut Mohammad Azharullah for four in the first over of the session, followed by a rasping off-drive. Selman also flicked Azharullah to mid-wicket to bring up the 50-stand in the 14th over.

But 50/0 became 53/3 in the space of five balls as firstly Wallace was bowled by the Pakistani seamer before next over Will Bragg departed l.b.w. to Ben Sanderson who then found the edge of Jacques Rudolph’s bat as he played defensively forward outside off stump and edged into the wicket-keeper’s gloves.

Selman though remained defiant and drove Sanderson through mid-off as he completed his third half-century in as many Championship games, from 67 balls as yet again he square-cut Azharullah. But later in the over, Donald edged to first slip as Glamorgan slipped to 87/4. Selman on-drove and pulled Kleinveldt for a pair of four but with the total on 97, David Lloyd also edged a drive against Azharullah and was caught at second slip.

Andrew Salter began by hooking Azharullah for four with Selman also cutting Graeme White when the left-arm spinner entered the attack. Selman also drove through mid-off as Sanderson returned before steering White through extra-cover. With Salter playing each ball on its merits, the young opener continued to accumulate in the closing overs as the visitors employed an all-spin attack, with Glamorgan ending the day on 139/5 with Selman unbeaten on a career-best 79.

Teatime update

Northants resumed after lunch on 233/6 with Glamorgan eager to finish off the visitors innings as Ruaidhri Smith and Andrew Salter resumed the bowling. Kleinveldt responded by pulling a short ball from Smith for four. He then off-drove Smith en route to completing a 72-ball fifty, Zaib also pulled Salter for six before Owen Morgan replaced Smith at the Mumbles Road End and was pulled for four by Zaib who completed a maiden Championship half-century by also pulling Salter – his 79th delivery.

Kleinveldt also clubbed Morgan to mid-wicket for four before bringing up the century stand by lofting successive deliveries from the left-arm spinner over long-off for six. He then drilled consecutive balls from Salter over extra-cover for further sixes as he looked to plunder as many runs as possible before the new ball. His aggression prompted the return of David Lloyd but his first delivery sailed over long-on for six and the second to mid-wicket as the 300 came up in the 75th over.

But Kleinveldt’s salvo of muscular blows ended as he attempted to strike an eighth six, but he ended up mis-timing a pull against Lloyd with Wallace safely pouching the skier. Next over, Graeme White drove Lloyd into Jacques Rudolph’s hands at mid-on. The new ball was taken after 80 overs with Northants on 306/8, with Lukas Carey and Timm van der Gugten returning to the fray. Zaib off-drove the latter for four, whilst Azharullah clipped the Dutchman for four to mid-wicket. But next ball, he departed l.b.w. before Ben Sanderson clipped a ball back to the pace bowler as Northants ended on 321.

Wallace launched the Glamorgan reply by cutting Kleinveldt for four before Nick Selman on-drove Sanderson before steering him through the gully Wallace then on-drove Kleinveldt for four before cover-driving Sanderson

Lunchtime Report

Yesterday was a day to remember for 19 year-old seam bowler Lukas Carey with the debutant from Pontarddulais claiming three cheap wickets in between a series of heavy showers at a blustery St. Helen’s. The youngster – who has a run-up and action not dissimilar from Tim Bresnan of Yorkshire – removed three of the visitor’s top order batsmen as Northamptonshire ended the day on 108/4 with 62 overs being lost because of the precipitation. On-loan signing Laurie Evans had, together with David Murphy, mounted a recovery mission during the evening session, adding an unbeaten 70 in 22 overs.he pair were looking to further consolidate this morning as Timm van der Gugten returned to action in tandem with Ruaidhri Smith. Murphy swatted the Dutchman square of the wicket for the day’s first boundary, before Evans clipped him to midwicket. Murphy also on-drove Smith for four before Evans scythed van der Gugten over the slip cordon to complete a 112-ball fifty.

Their stand was worth 97 when Murphy edged Smith to second slip where Aneurin Donald took a good low catch diving to his right. Saif Zaib made his way to the middle and got off the mark with an off-drive before Evans greeted the return of Carey by pulling the teenager for four, before doing the same when David Lloyd returned at the Mumbles Road End.

Zaib then pulled Carey for four but with the total on 170 Lloyd found the edge of Evans’ bat as the on-loan batsman feathered a catch to Mark Wallace. With Rory Kleinveldt as his new partner, Zaib edged van der Gugten for four, before the actring captain brought up the 200 as he top-edged a pull against the Dutchman which sailed over fine-leg for six.

Shortly before lunch Glamorgan switched to spin with Andrew Salter and Owen Morgan bowling in tandem, with Zaib on-driving Morgan for four and Kleinveldt pulling Salter for six.

News on this Day

Lost Cats – Lost and found in S Wales

If your cat is missing check our LOST CATS page
This area draws the Facebook pages of lost Cats in Cardiff and S Wales together for easy viewing .
It also includes GOOD NEWS stories of found cats like Ollie below !